Since her growing success, which began in 2017 but truly burgeoned with the release of her debut album Immunity (2019), there’s never been a moment when it seemed like singer-songwriter Clairo might be waning in quality. On the contrary, she always proves her capabilities as an artist, and whether crafting unexpected hits or showing off, she could have easily made it big as a producer. Charm, the third full-length project, is no different, expanding Clairo and co.’s horizons by updating late-20th-century sounds within the framework of indie-pop. More than that, the album makes Clairo a shoo-in for one of the best songwriters working today, somehow improving in real time on each passing track that already gets stuck in your head upon one listen.

Considering the album has some of the most incredible mixing out of any record released this year, it’s only right Charm arrives with a slew of planned live shows. Beginning in September, Clairo will be going on a US tour with support from fellow singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou, stopping in San Diego at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on Oct. 4 and Santa Barbara at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Oct. 7. Before the tour’s start, she has five days lined up in LA at The Fonda Theatre from Sept. 6 to Sept. 11, followed by five days at NYC’s Webster Hall.

Soothing, Soulful Songwriting

Right out of the gate, the vocals on opener/second single “Nomad” guide the listener through intricate arrangements, often the result of what could be entire bands assembled for any given song—more often than not, co-producer Leon Michels of The Dap-Kings and El Michels Affair fame is the one behind each instrument. The rest of the tracklist has the benefit of sharing the same lush, hushed melodies heard first on “Nomad,” with Clairo’s serenading on songs like “Second Nature” and “Echo” being among some of the best harmonies you will hear all year.

The lyrics shine as much as the stellar production, conjuring up vivid images independent of one another yet often carrying over similarly warm emotions. “Pier 4,” the last song on Charm, finds Clairo describing the reminiscing her former lover will be doing when they visit a pier host to many memories, “When close is not close enough.” It’s a delicate yet sad portrait that exemplifies the very personal stories and confessions interwoven in all of Clairo’s songs.

Bringing Back the Seventies

It’s impossible to underestimate the influence that the 70s Motown and soft-rock had on Charm. When “Sexy to Someone” immediately staked a claim for one of Clairo’s best songs with lavish instrumentation and sensual melodies, the left-of-center move into soul was the type of worlds colliding event we didn’t know we needed. However, the natural combining of styles is thanks to Clairo’s exquisite taste in collaborators, this time bringing Michels on board after producer extraordinaire Jack Antonoff and Vampire Weekend co-founding member Rostam Batmanglij before him.

The two form a dream team out of an unexpected collaboration on paper. However, in execution, Clairo and Michels pay tribute to artists of the past, such as Harry Nilsson and Herb Alpert, while also finding ways to incorporate a distinct flair unique to Clairo. For example, “Slow Dance” has the sort of structure to make Carole King proud, evoking melancholy through a Wurlitzer, bongos, percussion, and several other instruments commonly heard in previous decades. Somehow, even when placed next to likely influences for her, Clairo finds her own way to spin the 70s into the 21st century, finding a middle ground between the R&B/pop she’s known for and the music that inspired her.

Natural Progression Over Time

While there’s a lot to love from Clairo’s previous records, there’s no denying the atmosphere created on Charm gleams with life breathing throughout the tracklist. From the glittery piano at the halfway point of “Terrapin” to the flute and drums spurring up swing dancing on “Add Up My Love,” it’s a wonder how effortlessly all the pieces in Charm’s satisfying puzzle fit. Additionally, what made Clairo’s catalog stand out thus far is not only built upon but improved at every turn. Where “Sofia” off 2019’s Immunity has its distorted breakdown after the chorus, “Second Nature” settles into a calm refrain marked by the twee piano keys and a Beatles-esque Mellotron complimenting the comforting vocal delivery.

Compared to her breakout song and bedroom-pop national anthem “Pretty Girl” (also a somewhat precursor to “Sexy to Someone”), the jump on all musical fronts couldn’t be more evident. That’s not to say what Clairo accomplished early on was for nothing. If anything, the highs of Charm only punctuate her continued devotion to strengthening her skills as an artist who, whenever there’s a label waiting to attach itself, pivots into unexpected territory made familiar swiftly. Despite reinventing herself on all three full-length releases so far, each time, it’s as if this is the sound she’s always felt comfortable exploring, cementing her already decorated legacy among her peers.

ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

BEST NEW MUSIC

Words: David Sosa

Visit Clairo on her website and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tickets to her upcoming tour.

Clairo 2024 Tour Dates:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Fri, Sept 6. – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre

Sat, Sept 7. – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre

Sun, Sept 8. – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre

Tues, Sept. 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre

Wed, Sept. 11 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre

Sat, Sept. 14 – New York, NY – Webster Hall

Sun, Sept. 15 – New York, NY – Webster Hall

Tues, Sept. 17 – New York, NY – Webster Hall

Wed, Sept. 18 – New York, NY – Webster Hall

Thu, Sept. 19 – New York, NY – Webster Hall

Fri, Sept. 27 – Dallas, TX- The Factory in Deep Ellum

Sat, Sept. 28 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall

Mon, Sept. 30 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater

Tues, Oct. 1 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater

Thurs, Oct. 3 – Mesa, AZ- Mesa Amphitheatre

Fri, Oct. 4 – San Diego, CA – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Sun, Oct. 6 – Stanford, CA- Frost Amphitheater

Mon, Oct. 7 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl

Wed, Oct. 9 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield*

Thurs, Oct. 10 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre

Fri, Oct. 11 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre

Sun, Oct. 13 – Magna, UT – The Great Saltair

Mon, Oct. 14 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom

Wed, Oct. 16 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed

Sun, Oct. 20 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!

Mon, Oct. 21 – Washington, D.C. – The Anthem

Wed, Oct. 23 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall

Thurs, Oct. 24 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall

Mon, Oct. 28 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner

Tues, Oct. 29 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner

Fri, Nov. 1 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall

Sat, Nov. 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall

Mon, Nov. 4 – Nashville, TN – Opry House

Tues, Nov. 5 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium

Thurs, Nov. 7 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre